mcilhenny



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. A. MGILHBNNY.

HYDRAULIC MAIN FOR GAS WGRKS.

No. 282,345. Patented July 31,188.3.

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G. A. MGILHENNY.

HYDRAULIC MAIN FOR GASWQRKS. No. 282,345. Patented July 31. 1883.

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y IUNITED y STATES i PATENT OFFIC.

GEORGE A. MGILHENNY, VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA` HYDRAULIC MAlNFoR GAS-woRKs.

SPECIIEICATION'foriningzg;V part of Letters Patent No. 282,345, dated VJuly 31, 1883.

' Application-filedApril21,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE'A. MoIL-HEN- NY, of the city of Washington and District of Columbia, have Vinvented certain new and 4useful Improvements in Hydraulic Mains for Gas- Works; and I do hereby declare that the following specificatiomtaken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, and complete description of the several features of my invention.

`Although some of my said improvements' are applicable to retort-benches operated at ordinary temperatures, I have devised them with special reference to such as are worked at extraordinary high temperatures on the socalled recuperative 7 system. V

One portion of my invention consists in the combination of a hydraulic main havnga tarpocket at oneside and extending throughout its length, ascension-pipes which enter through the bottom of the main from below, and a dip or sealing pipe which is pendent from the top i of the main and surrounds the top of the y cension -pi'pe Tar-pockets have heretofore been provided in hydraulic mains, but only in such as have the gas conducted from the retorts by outside ascension-pipes connecting with dip-pipes which enter through the top J hydraulic main; and another portion of my of the main and have their lower ends sealed, and, as heretofore organized, the contents of said pockets are so liable to hardenby cooling that steam heatingjackets have been de# `vised for keeping said contents at a desirable temperature to enable the removal thereof. `As constructed and organized by me, the ascension-pipesleading directly from the retorts through the bottom of the main and adjacent to said pockets so heat the bottom of the main and the walls of the pocket as to not only secure the free flow and deposit of the tarry matters into said pocket, but enable them to be readily discharged or removed therefrom.

It is also well known that theascensionpipes of retorts operated under extraordinarily high temperatures require more frequent clearing from more or less solid accumulations therein than when operated at ordinary temj peratures, and that the clearing operation is performed byworkmen standing on top ofthe invention relates to a particular construction of the hydraulic main, dip-pipe, dip-pipe lids, and the adjacent parts, whereby they are economically constructed and more securely closedand more readily removed and replaced, thussaving much time at each opening and closing of a lid, which is a matter of special importance in view of the necessary increased frequency of the clearing operation referred to.

In my prior Letters Patent No. 247,386, September 20,1881, I show a lid, a screw, and a cross-bar, to which said screw is tapped but as noW devised by me the lid is hinged to or upon a pivot common to said cross-bar, and the latter is secured to the lid, and at its outer end it is secured for closing by a suitable swinging link or stirrup, thus enabling the b ar `and lid to be swung to and fro together without changing their relations to each other, and also enabling all of said parts, with the dippipe, to be integrally removed from the main. The frequent clearing of the ascension-pipes also increases the liability of injury to the dippipe. valves as heretofore organized by the.

contact therewith of the heavy tools of the workmen while engaged on top of the main. As shown in my said prior Letters Patent, the stems of the dip-pipe valves have heretofore extended upward throughthe top of the main, and they were therefore specially liable to be bent or twisted by accidental blows from the tools .used for clearing, and another object of my invention is to obviate said liability of injury by so organizing the dip-pipe valves as to leave the top f the main wholly unobstructed, and to so locate their stems as to render them practically secure from injury.

The excessive development of tarry matters n renders dip-pipe valves as heretofore constructed specially liable to derangement at their seats, because of the extraordinary deposit thereon of more or less solid matters, rendering it difficult to obtain the requisite gas-tight joint when the dip-pipe lids arelremoved; and another 'object of my invention is to obtain a gas-tight joint regardless-of lthe presence of such hitherto obstructive matters; and I accomplish this andthe protection of the valve-ste1n, and also obtain an unobstructed surface on top of the main for the convenience of workmen in clearing `the ascensionpipes,

IOO

by the combination, with the dip-pipe, self-clearing valve provided with a horizontal valve-stem, which projects through the front side of the main.

1 To more particularly describe my invention, I will refer to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of a portion of a hydraulie main containing my improvements.

l closely adjacent to its pocket A@ into which Fig. 2 is a lateral vertical section of the hydraulic main on line x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion of the main with the dip-pipe valve-stem and its operating-lever removed. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal section ofthe dip-pipe and a portion of the front of the main on a line with the stem of the dip-pipe valve.

As heretofore, the hydraulic main A is located above one or more' series or benches7 of retorts, and it internally communicates with each retort by way of an ascension-pipe, B, and each of the latter .terminates at itstop within a dip-pipe, C, having its lower end iminersed in the water with which the hydraulicmain is charged for sealing purposes.

It will be seen that the ascension-pipe B passes through the bottom of the main and the tarrymatters gravitate. As here shown, the said pocket is formed by making the hydraulic main deeper at its rear side than at the front, and while I prefer that said pocket be rectangular in cross-section, as shown', similar results will accrue if the bottom of the main should, be inclined downward from front to rear, as in both cases the tarry matter will gravitate to the lowest portion of the main.

, However said pocket A may be formed, I

make provision for the removal of the tarry matter by means of draft-pipe a, communicating with said pocket at or near its bottom, and also by properly-guarded hand-holes a in the rear side of the main, above the pocket. The heat from the vascension-pipe B, leading directly from a retort, maintains the tarry product ina proper condition for ready removal.

It is to be understood that the tarry by-products of retorts operated under extraordinarily high temperatures are of much greater specific gravity than similar products incident to the employment of ordinary lower temperatures, and therefore the value of the pocket will be obvious as a means for accumulating the heavy tarry matters into such a position within the main as will render them capable of convenient removal, and also so as to leave the surface fluid in the main in a desirably limpid condition, so as to enable gas to readily/pass from the retort through the iiuid seal into the main should there be any delay in opening the dip-pipe valve after the closing of the retort. f

The pendent dip-pipe C, as here shown, de-

scends through the top of the main, and is supported thereon by means of a fiange and secured by bolts, as illustrated in my prior Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to, and alof a though said pipe has aremovable lid, c, somewhat like that shown in ysaid Letters Patent, said lid is now mounted in a novel manner, and its seat is also materially improved. As here shown, the lid c is hinged to a pivot, o', which is also common to the clamp-bar c2, and this latter, near its free or outer end, occupies a vertically-slotted bolt, c3, tapped into the lid, so that, althoughthe clamp-bar is separately pivoted, it cannot be thrown rearwardly independently of the lid.

In lieu of the slotted bolt c3 for connecting the clamp-bar and lid, the clamp-screw c4 and lid maybe connected by aball-and-so eket joint at the lower end of the screw, in a manner well known.

The clamp-screw cAL is tapped through the clamp-bar, so that itslower end bears centrally upon the lid. The outer end of the clamp-bar is held for clamping by a pivoted slotted link or stirrup, c5. In saidprior patent I show and describe the lid as having a beveled edge and the dip-pipe as having a mouth or lid seat of corresponding beveled form, and although I employ the same beveled edge on the lid, I now employ therewith a sharp-edged seat, d.

It is well known that more or less solid tarry matters are liable to accumulate `.at the seat of the lid, and that they are liable to be unequally distributed thereon, which renders it difficult for a gas-tight joint to be obtained with the eorrespondingly-beveled edges shown and described in my said prior Letters Patent. vWith the sharp-edged seat a gas-tight joint is readily obtained, because it cuts and clears its way to a good bearing with the lid, and if any tarry matters should adhere to theedge of the lid, or to the seat, they really contribute as aids to a gas-tight condition, instead of preventing it, as with the said prior construction of lid and seat. In some cases I reverse the positions of the sharp and the beveled edges, locating the latter at the seat and making the edge of the lid sharp, so as to produce the same clearing effect, and it is obvious that with the seat thus beveled, instead of sharp, it is less liable to be bruised or indented by contact therewith ofy the tools used for clearing out the ascensionpipe.

I am of course well aware of my prior use of the beveled edge and the sharp edge in connection with retort-lids, as illustrated in my prior Letters Patent No. 137 ,7 O-i, April, 1873; but I know of no prior dip-pipe lid hinged or pivoted and combinedwith the clamp-bar, the clamp-screw, pivoted link, and slotted bolt, or equivalentconnection, and enabled to secure a gas-tight joint by means ofthe coincident beveled and sharp edges, as shown and described.

In my aforesaid prior Letters Patent No. 247,386 I show and describe a dip-pipe valve located on the inner side of the dip-pipe and arranged to slidevertically, the valve-stem extending upward through the top of the main or the ilange of the dip-pipe and connecting with a lever, by which said valve is opened IOO IIO

ticable, l to either a concave or a convex and closed. As hereinbefore indicated, the accumulation of obstructive matters materially interferes with the proper operation and closure of such a sliding valve or gate, and the eX- tension of the valve-stems above the top of the main exposes them to frequent injury.

It will be seen that my present dip-pipe is rectangular in cross-section, and I have selected this form because of the greater facility with which the seat c of the dip`pipe valve D can be` applied to a flat surface. It is prachowever, to apply such a valve-seat surface by providing for the seat a back plate which conforms to the surface to which the valve-seat is to be attached, and therefore the dip-pipe may be round, if desired. The said seat e is p'rovided with a sharp annular edge, and it is shown to be integral with its back plate, e, bolted to the dip-pipe, and it has a yoke, e2,

affording a slide-bearing for the inner end of the valve-spindle e,which, at its front en d, projects through a stufng-boX mounted in the front wall or side of the hydraulic main. The self-clearing valve D'has an annular beveled edge, which engages with the sharp edge of the seat e,'causing the latter to cut through any tarry matters which may be deposited on l of soft or wrought iron.

the seat or valve, and thereby to secure a gastight joint. For the best results I` make the valve and seat of metal varying in hardnessas, for instance, one of cast-iron and the other The beveled edge may be located on the seat, and the valve may be provided with a sharp front edge, and an equally-desirable Selfclearing capacity will be obtained. Rings having a sharp edge may be detachably applied either to the valve or seat, for convenient renewal. rlhe valve is moved to and fromits seatl by means of a bell-crank lever, f, pivotedA to a bracket, f, secured to the top-of the main, and also pivoted by a ball and slotted joint rto an adjustable head, f2, on the outer end of the sliding valve-stem.

If desired, the valve and stem may be rotative and moved to and fro by a screw-thread in a well-known manner. It will be seen, however .the valve and -seat may be constructed, that thev valve stem or spindle is wholly protected from injury while the workmen occupy the top of the hydraulic main, and that the top of the latter' is practically unvalves located below the main, and therefore the stems of such valvesf were not exposed to injury from workmenwhen on top of the main but in such cases the valves are located in the ascension-pipes, and, if not opened si- Vmultaneously with the'closing of the retorts,

dangerous or objectionable 'pressures are lia` ble to be induced, whereas with the dip-pipe `and its valve arelief from pressure is aiforded by way of the waterseal at the foot of the dippipe, thus rendering it important that the valve should be within the hydraulic main, and consequently necessary that its stem or spindle should project therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, I clai 1n as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. rlhe combination, with a hydraulic main provided with a pocket, of a pendent dip or sealing pipe and anY ascensionpipe passing through the bottom of said main and adjacent to said pocket, substantially as described, whereby said pocket will receive the gravitating tarry products, and the latter be maintained at a temperature favorable to their deposit therein and removal therefrom, :as set forth. i

2. The combination, with the hydraulic main, of the hanged dip-pipe, the dip-pipe lid hinged to the flange of said dip-pipe, the co-V incident beveled and sharp edges for securing a gas-tight j ojnt between pipe and lid, the clamp-bar hinged to said flange and connected to the lid, the pivoted link or stirrup, and the clamp-screw, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the hydraulic main and dip-pipe, of the dip-pipe valve and seat having the coincident beveled and sharp edges for said valve and its seat, and a horizontal valvestem projecting through the side of the main substantially as described.

GEO; A. MOILHENNY.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. Poole, H. B. CLAXtroN.

V heretofore cut off from the main by means of 6o securing a gas-tight joint between IOO 

